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Creating a culture that helps a company retain employees, win work and leave a positive impression on the community can be a difficult challenge. For The Beck Group, based in Dallas, success has come from a culture of caring that permeates all areas of the business.

“One of our four core values is caring—defined as showing concern, empathy and compassion for others, ourselves and our environment,” says Shannah Haley, Beck’s director of marketing and communications. “This is foundational to who we are and who we’ve been as a company for our 103-year history.”
In Tampa, Fla., Beck has had a profound effect on the area’s educational institutions—raising more than $1.3 million for the University of Tampa Scholarship Program and Athletic Department in the last 15 years. Most recently, the company’s 2015 golf fundraiser raised $120,000 to go toward scholarship funds for students looking to further their education.

With nearly 300 golfers and 50 volunteers, the tournament has become a staple event for the company that has allowed it to bring together employees, clients, competitors and members of the community to simultaneously network and give back.

Beck believes it is important to funnel outreach efforts to education, another core focus of the company, because of its role as an economic driver in the community. But, being able to support the university and its students is just one way the company gives back. The Tampa office offers employees a variety of volunteer opportunities, including renovating and painting the new Big Brothers Big Sisters headquarters, participating in philanthropic walks and providing supplies to local schools.

“There’s a lot of longevity with employees at Beck. People stay here instead of hopping from job to job,” says Caroline Vostrejs, Beck’s

manager of client services. “Our employees want to help and support these causes, so developing a culture of caring helps keep people around.”

In the Austin, Texas, office, Beck raised more than $86,000 through its second annual golf scramble for the Medical Endowment Fund of Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas, which allows children with serious illnesses to attend specialty summer camps.In Dallas, Beck is the largest single supporter of the Tyler Street Christian Academy and has been hosting a golf tournament for 21 years that raises money for the academy’s scholarship fund, which provides an educational opportunity to families who could not otherwise afford to attend the school.

“We don’t give back because we expect it to help our company; we give back because it’s who we are fundamentally,” Haley says. “Has that helped us as a company? I would say yes, because at the end of the day people want to work for and with people they know, trust and like. Generosity and caring are winsome qualities.”

Donna Puglisi is public relations manager of Associated Builders and Contractors. For more information, email puglisi@abc.org.